SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VIII. 693 



In the winter, when the fowls are necessarily confined to a limited 

 range, they must have more attention. Above all, the quarters must be 

 kept clean. We find it an excellent plan to sprinkle air-slaked lime on 

 the ground after the building has been cleaned. It serves as a disin- 

 fectant, and, too, the fowls will eat some of it. We kept a box of air- 

 slaked lime standing in the hen house all summer where the poultry had 

 free access to it. 



Beside cleanliness, winter quarters must have four other requisites: 

 warm, sunny, dry, and be well ventilated. 



To keep hens active, which is the secret of their winter laying, they 

 must have exercise. Dry litter, such as leaves, or fine straw, may be 

 thrown into the hen house. Into this, every morning, scatter a few hand- 

 fuls of small grain, as wheat, millet, or speltz. They will scratch and 

 hunt all day. Then, too, a cabbage head hung high enough that they 

 must jump to reach it, will give them exercise. 



An armful of clover or alfalfa hay thrown among them in the morn- 

 ing will be stripped of leaves and blossoms by night. Once or twice a 

 week we give a hot bran mash in which has been mixed a quantity of 

 beef scraps. 



Sunflower seed is also a good feed, but should be fed sparingly. Corn 

 may be fed occasionally, but it is not good as a steady diet, as it is too 

 fattening, and fat hens will not lay. 



Here are some simple remedies that may help some of you in your 

 struggles with mites and lice: 



During the day time most of the mites leave the poultry and may be 

 found clustering on the under side of the perches. At night they prey 

 upon the poultry. A Iverosene torch, similar to those used in former 

 political torch-light processions, is used. Light it, and hold it under the 

 perches, moving along slowly. The heat reaches all cracks and crevices 

 that it is impossible to reach with a liquid exterminator. 



The lice remedy we have not tried, as we are not troubled by that 

 pest. This is the remedy, however: A pound of moth balls dissolved in 

 a gallon of kerosene and applied to the roosts once a month in said 

 to be effective. 



For roup: Muriate of iron, applied to their throats with a swab will 

 cure the disease. 



Statistics are usually dry and uninteresting, but we want to give you 

 a few concerning the Kansas hen. What is true of the Kansas hen may 

 also be said of the Iowa hen. "Here is one year's work of the Kansas 

 hen. $7,226,111, to say nothing of 'broilers' and other by-products. Kan- 

 sas hens make more money for Kansas than do her sheep, wool, barley, 

 flax sorghum, oats, and potatoes."' 



A sugestion as to the method of disposing ■ of your blooded fowls 

 (for we all have satisfied ourselves that a mongrel fowl pays no better 

 than a scrub hog, sow, or horse). Advertise. If you want to reach the 

 local trade use the columns of your local papers. If you wish to reach a 

 wider list of poultry raisers and fanciers, advertise in a good poultry 

 journal. But advertise. 



